Heddle frame for looms



March 25, 1969 B. R. KOCH HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Sheet Filed Dec. 21, 1966 March 25, 1969 B. R. K CH 3,434,505

HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 21. 1966 Sheet 2 or s March 25, 1969 B. R. KOCH 3,434,505

HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 21, 1966 Sheet 3 of s United States atent 3,434,505 HEDDLE FRAME FOR LOOMS Bernhard R. Koch, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Grob & Co. Aktiengesellschaft, Horzen, Zurich, Switzerland Filed Dec. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 603,540

Claims priority, application Switzerland, May 11, 1966,

6,832/66 Int. Cl. D03c 9/06 US. Cl. 139-?2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to heddle frames of the kind which have a frame stave across the top and bottom with heddle carrying rods attached one to each frame stave. The heddle carrying rods extend parallel with their staves, and are attached to, but spaced from their staves by means of carrier brackets fixed to the heddle carrying rods, and which can be attached to the staves.

In a known construction, a longitudinal rib is provided along one side of the stave, and keyhole-shaped holes are formed in the rib, the holes extending longitudinally of the rib and the position of each hole corresponding to the position of a carrier bracket on the heddle carrying rod. Projecting heads are provided on each bracket for engaging in the holes in the rib whereby the rod is suspended from the stave. The connection and disconnection of the rods can be effected by pushing them endwise to move the heads into register with the large parts of the holes so that the heads can be disengaged from the ribs.

The hooking in of the heads on the brackets is difficult particularly with long heddle frames, because all the heads must be engaged simultaneously. To facilitate this hookin, the narrow parts of the holes must be large enough to permit a certain amount of play of the heads, but this provides slack connections and increases the wear on the engaging parts.

Another disadvantage of this known type of heddle frame is that dirt and fly can collect in the holes and on the heads. From time to time the accumulated dirt falls on to the Warp threads and can be woven into the fabric creating faults.

In another construction the frame stave carries bolts arranged in pairs, one pair corresponding to each carrier bracket on the heddle carrying rod. Perforations are formed in the brackets to engage on the bolts, and a leaf spring resting on the bracket secures the bracket in relation to the bolts, because the leaf-spring, after being pushed endwise, engages in grooves by the bolts. In this arrangement, the releasable connections are exposed, so that they can he accidentally unfastened during work on the heddle frame or during cleaning. A further disadvantage of this construction is that the heddle carrying rod can become detached from the stave and foul neighbouring heddle frames as a result of which the frames can become buckled and the heddle torn out.

Connections of the types described above, and similar connections have the disadvantage that a certain minimum play must be provided, and this encourages later wear of the parts. Furthermore, the bearing surfaces are either shaped as bolts or have to be kept very small. Such small bearing surfaces become crushed in a relatively short time, so that the play increases and entanglement of parts on adjacent frames becomes more likely.

The object of the invention is to prvide a heddle frame which has a detachable heddle carrying rod, but in which the aforementioned disadvantages are minimised.

According to this invention a heddle frame has at least one frame with a heddle carrying rod detachably connected to it, the heddle carrying rod having carrier brackets secured to it, and the stave being hollow at least in the zone of each carrier bracket, the brackets entering the stave through openings on the edge of the stave facing the rod, and all the connecting elements between the brackets and the stave being housed within the stave.

Preferably each bracket is positioned between holding pieces inside the stave and a sliding bolt engaging under part of the bracket or a part fixed to the bracket is engageable with shoulders on the holding pieces to retain the bracket and press the latter against a leaf-spring to make a tight connection.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of two forms of heddle frame each in accordance with the invention. These are described by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of part of a heddle frame, with part out away to reveal interior details;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of an alternative arrangement, except that in FIG. 3 the various parts are shown in an exploded relationship; and

FIG. 4 is a section on the line IVIV in FIG. 3.

It should be understood that there are only slight differences between the two arrangements illustrated, and that like parts are given the same reference numerals in both arrangements. Further, it is possible to refer to FIGS. 3 and 4 to assist in interpreting FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring specifically to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, part of the top stave of a heddle frame is shown at 1, and part of a heddle carrying rod is shown at 2. The rod 2 is suspended from the stave 1 by means of several carrier brackets 9 spaced apart along the length of the rod and secured to the rod by rivets or other fastening devices. This arrangement is known, and the rod 2 lies parallel with the stave 1. It is possible to suspend the heddle from the rod 2 and of course there is a similar stave and rod at the opposite side of the heddle frame, the staves being connected at their ends by lateral supports (not shown).

As is apparent in FIG. 2, the frame stave 1 is considerably thicker than the bracket 9, and the stave is hollow at least in the vicinity of each bracket. Two holding pieces 3 and 4 are fixed in the stave 1 at longitudinally spaced positions, the distance between these two holding pieces being somewhat greater than the horizontal length of the upper part of the carrier bracket 9. Notches 5 and 6 are formed respectively in the inside faces of the pieces 3 and 4, near to their upper ends, and a leaf spring 7 has its ends received in the notches 5 and 6.

An opening 8 is provided in the bottom edge of the stave 1, between the two holding pieces 3 and 4, to allow the upper part of the carrier bracket 9 to be inserted into the stave. A connecting piece 10 is rigidly secured to the upper part of the bracket 9, and a thin foil 11 of metal or resilient material is wrapped around the upper part of the bracket 9 and the connecting piece 10 as indicated in FIG. 2. The foil 11 ensures that the bracket 9 and connecting piece 10 are a good fit within the thickness of the stave 1, so that there is little or no tendency for the bracket 9 to wobble sideways.

Near to their lower ends, the holding pieces 3 and 4 are formed with recesses 14 and 16 in one face, and with lateral recesses 20, 32 in their inside faces (see FIGS. 1 and 3). A horizontally disposed locking bar 12 is provided, this locking bar being capable of fitting into the recesses 14 and 16 with considerable vertical clearance as illustrated in FIG. 1. One end 17 of the bar 12 has a tail which is capable of seating on the base of the recess 16, and a portion which fits into the lateral recess 32. Also, a lateral recess 22 is formed in the end 17 of the bar 12 facing inwardly.

When the heddles have been threaded on to the heddle carrying rods 2, the brackets 9 are pushed up through their respective opening 8 into the stave 1, and the top of the connecting piece 10 (sheathed in the foil 11) presses against the leaf spring 7. With the spring 7 under compression, it is possible to insert the other end 13 of the bar 12 into the recess 14 in the holding piece 3, and then the bar is pushed to the left of the position shown in FIG. 1, until its tail end 15 can be inserted into the inside end of the recess 16 in the holding piece 4. The locking bar is then moved to the right until it engages in the lateral recess 32. At this stage, the connecting piece 10 is nipped between the bar 12 and the spring 7 by the spring pressure, and this holds the bracket 9 in place.

To prevent endwise movement of the bar 12 (which could result in the disconnection of the fastening) a locking bar keeper 18 is provided. This keeper takes the form of a piece of flexible material which can be fitted into the recess 20 in the holding piece 3 and the recess 22 in the bar. To fit the keeper, it is necessary to bend it as shown in chain dotted lines in FIG. 3, until its opposite ends 19, 21 can be fitted into the recesses 20 and 22. When the keeper is in position, it straightens, and holds the bar firmly in place.

If it is required to disconnect the heddle carrying rod 2 from the stave 1, it is only necessary to bend the keeper 18 outwards so that it can be taken out of the recesses 20 and 22, and then the bar 12 is moved to the left to disengage its tail 15 from the holding piece 4. The bar is then withdrawn and the bracket 9 is free to drop out of the stave 1.

It will be observed that all the connections are within the stave 1, and that only a part of the bracket 9 protrudes from the stave. Consequently, the components making the connection are protected from damage, and it is almost impossible for them to become accidentally disengaged. Because most of the bracket 9 is within the stave 1, it is unnecessary to reduce the height of the stave, and as a result, the stave can be made very strong. Nevertheless, the total height of the heddle frame can be kept to a minimum because no space is taken up between the stave and the heddle carrying rod by the connections.

The foil 11, which is preferably made of tear-proof artificial material prevents direct contact between the bracket 9 with its connecting piece 10 on the one hand and the stave 1 with its leaf-spring 7 and bolt 12 on the other hand. This helps to reduce wear of the connecting parts. As is apparent in FIG. 1, the spacing between the holding pieces 3 and 4 is somewhat greater than the length of the carrier bracket 9, so that it is possible for the heddle carrying rod 2 to move endwise within the limits provided by the clearance between the holding pieces and the carrier brackets. For the normal weaving process the power from the driving shaft is transmitted to the heddle carrying rod 2 free from end play. But if, for some reason, extraordinary demands arise which would otherwise lead to breakage of the connections the heddle carrying rod 2 can move endwise to a limited extent. Despite this, the principal degree of freedom permitted to the heddle carrying rod 2 is in the direction perpendicular to the stave due to the action of the leaf spring 7.

A further advantage of the preferred construction is that it is possible to adjust the distance between the stave 1 and the heddle carrying rod 2 to suit different weaving requirements. This can be done by inserting locking bars 12 of different thicknesses 22 to press the connecting piece 10 into the stave 1 to a greater or lesser extent. This enables the users to fix the distance between the two heddle carrying rods 2 to keep the play in the heddle within desired limits, which contributes materially to the smooth running of the machine.

It will be understood that the bottom heddle carrying rod which is not shown in the drawings is connected to its stave in the same manner as the top rod.

In the arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, all the parts are constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 except the leaf-spring 7a, which replaces the leaf-spring 7 and the connecting piece 1011 which takes the place of the connecting piece 10. The leaf-spring 7a has an M-shaped configuration, and a lateral notch 23 is formed in the top edge of the connecting piece 10a, into which the central V-shaped portion of the leaf-spring engages. This arrangement provides a means whereby the spring 7a acts to centralise the bracket 9 between the two holding pieces 3 and 4 in a longitudinal direction. The advantage of this arrangement is that the rod 2 can move endwise against resilient load, but is urged towards a centralised position.

What I claim is:

1. A heddle frame for use in a m, comprising in combination with a frame stave, a heddle carrying rod, means for connecting said rod to said stave including a plurality of carrier brackets fixedly connected to said carrying rod at longitudinally spaced positions, said stave being hollow at least in the zone of each of said carrier brackets and having longitudinal openings in the edge of said stave facing said rod, said carrier brackets entering said stave through said longitudinal openings, a pair of longitudinally spaced holding pieces for each of said carrier brackets fixedly connected to said stave on the inside thereof, said holding pieces being provided each with a recess, the holding pieces of each pair of holding pieces being arranged at the ends of each of said openings to receive said carrier brackets between them, a leaf spring extending between each pair of said spaced holding pieces within said stave, the ends of said leaf springs engaging the ends of said carrier brackets when the latter are inserted in said openings, and a locking bar for each said carrier brackets, said bar engaging its associated carrier bracket with a portion between its ends while the ends of said bar engage said recesses in said pair of holding pieces to hold said bracket against its associated leaf-spring.

2. A heddle frame for use in a loom according to claim 1, including a flexible keeper engageable with a recess in said locking bar and with a recess in one of said pair of holding pieces to urge said bar into engagement with a recess in the other of said holding pieces.

3. A heddle frame for use in a loom according to claim 1, wherein the side walls and the upper edge of that part of each of said carrier brackets which enters said stave is covered by a tear-proof foil, whereby the portions of the foil covering said side walls are engaged by the inner faces of the side walls of said hollow stave.

4. A heddle frame for use in a loom according to claim 1, in which the distance between the two holding pieces of each pair of said holding pieces is greater than the 5 width of that part of said carrier bracket which enters an opening in said stave.

5. A heddle frame for use in a 100m according to claim 1, wherein the center portion of said leaf-spring has a V-shaped configuration and that the opposing edge of the carrier bracket is notched to receive said V-shaped 5 center portion of said spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,016,925 1/1962 Graf 13992 3,154,109 10/1964 Kaufmann 139-92 FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1934 Great Britain. 9/ 195 8 Switzerland.

1 l/ 1963 Switzerland. 5/ 1966 Switzerland.

JAMES KEE CHI, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,434,505 March 25 1969 Bernhard R. Koch It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the heading to the printed specification, line 6, "Claims priority, application Switzerland, May ll, 1966, 6,832/66" should read Claims priority, application Switzerland, December 23, 1965, 17806/65 Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

